SOCCER

LVSL

By BLAKE METCLF-HOLT, JOE AUCIELLO and JOHN CARDONA

 

SO, it comes down to this.

Falcons and Fortuna, both on 13 wins with two games remaining in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

While the title race is locked on these two clubs, others can still find certain things that they choose to highlight through the last two remaining rounds.

 

Olympians 3 drew with Falcons 3

IN the third last game of the regular season, Latrobe Valley Soccer League league leaders Falcons 2000 travelled to Traralgon to face an Olympians side who were coming off two abject results in the past fortnight.

In any race to league championship glory ups and downs often ensue, and Saturday night encapsulated that very thought.

Olympians home ground has notoriously suffered greatly in the past when the heavens open, and with rain tumbling down all day it was inevitable that the game would be played under trying conditions.

The reserves game was called off to ensure the pitch was in some semblance of a playable condition by the time the seniors started.

Falcons came into the game knowing they needed to at least draw to stay outright top, as a loss would see arch rival Fortuna reclaim top spot by virtue of a much stronger goal difference.

Panic set in early for Falcons as within the first minute Olympians took the lead as a mishit back pass from captain Harley Broadbent brought about a series of calamitous events in the penalty box, with Olympian’s Dylan Dunstall slamming the ball home to give his side the lead.

It went from bad to worse for the Morwell side as their defence failed to clear a corner, which allowed new signing Henri Scott to tap home to silence the expectant away crowd.

Olympians were unlucky not to further their lead as goalkeeper Charles Simon pulled off a miraculous save off a deflected shot, and then full back Josh Patterson cleared a certain Scott goal off the line.

The footballing gods decided to throw more curveballs at Falcons; firstly, with the somewhat questionable sinbinning of Nick D’Alessandro and then a knee injury to captain Broadbent which forced an early change.

However, as it has done all year, Falcons just don’t give up no matter the challenge presented to them.

The Birds were able to halve the deficit before halftime as Moni Eliaser tapped in from close range after some industrious work from fellow striker Kuku Mahmoud, but any further forays forward were unable to be converted and the score remained in favour of the home side at the break.

Falcons came into the second half with the sole focus of levelling the scores. Resolute Olympians defender Alradi Ali thought otherwise as he tapped home from close range and, with a two-goal advantage on a surface fast becoming unplayable, it was almost impossible to see a way for Falcons to get back into the contest.

The earlier substitution of Broadbent gave an opportunity to experienced striker Jamie Pistrin to enter the game earlier than expected.

Battling chronic injury this year has seen Pistrin play largely off the bench, and with a front three of Eliaser, Mahmoud and Chocho Jacob in irresistible form, Pistrin has had to do his part for the team when given the opportunity, and it would be his introduction that ultimately saved his sides fortunes in season 2024.

Pistrin dragged one goal back with 20 minutes to go as his goal-bound shot was deflected past Olympians goalkeeper Jared Goodwin, which then gave Falcons the impetus to seek an equaliser.

Try as they might they simply could not fashion a third goal despite numerous opportunities, but the never say die attitude that has been a hallmark of the Birds came to the fore as in the sixth and final minute of injury time, a smart cross from Patterson found its way to Pistrin, who slammed home the equaliser to send the away side supporters into delirium.

The great escape was complete shortly after when the referee blew the final whistle and now the equation is ever so simple: Falcons must win their final two games and they will be league champions.

That is easier said than done as they face Moe United at home this Saturday night at 7pm in what is shaping up as the biggest match of the year.

 

Fortuna 14 def Tyers 0

Fortuna did wonders for their goal differential (which currently sits at a league-best 82) with a 14-nil thrashing of Tyers.

Fortuna piled on 10 goals in the final half at home to give them everything they need and more.

Damon Scott put through four goals and Jake Budija had a hat-trick to headline.

While still behind Falcons by a single point on the ladder, it sets Fortuna up perfectly with two more than achievable games against Newborough/Yallourn and East Gippsland to potentially leapfrog their top-seeded Morwell rival. That is if Moe United decide to throw a spanner in the works either side of the coin.

The Red Devils can do just that by beating Falcons this Saturday night.

 

Moe United 7 def Monash 2

MOE United continued its run of high-scoring games with a 7-2 win in the local derby against Monash on Sunday.

The home side was quickly on the offensive, and it took only six minutes to get the breakthrough when a short corner between Bayden Heusmann and Connor Dastey saw the cross find Luke Bathgate, who found the net with a clever back heeled goal.

Chances were being created at both ends, with no result until just before halftime.

A clumsy challenge on Moe’s Matt Shearing gave the Red Devils a spot kick, from which Connor O’Hanlon made no mistake, sending Monash keeper Logan Troughton the wrong way.

The second half began in much the same fashion as the first, and a defensive clearance by Moe saw the Monash defender misjudge his clearance, which sent O’Hanlon through to calmly place the ball in the back of the net.

Shortly after, it was 4-nil after a clever piece of footwork by Heusmann found Riley Winkelman.

An O’Hanlon misdirected pass across the ground saw a Monash player intercept and give Moe keeper Peter Albanese no chance.

Moe quickly replied after Winkelman picked up a defensive error to race clear and score.
Monash continued to fight on admirably, and were rewarded with another goal.

Best for the Red Devils was Heusmann, who kicked two late goals. Winkelman, Dastey and Tanner Pyle were also prominent.

 

East Gippsland 0 drew with Churchill 0

West Bairnsdale was a graveyard for goals at the weekend as East Gippsland and Churchill United ended in a nil-all draw.

That gave Churchill their third stalemate of the season.

East Gippsland could move out of the bottom two with an away match against fellow bottom dweller Sale United this Sunday.

 

Sale United 2 drew with Newborough/Yallourn 2

Sale United and Newborough/Yallourn also drew, this contest ended 2-all.

That jumped Newborough/Yallourn ahead of Churchill in sixth position, and gave the Swans their fifth draw for the season.